Economic forecast: Brewery hopes better times flow in 2021

Company: Good times were supposed to flow at Fort Myers Brewing in 2020. The brewery/tasting room/social hub — the oldest and largest brewery in Fort Myers, founded in 2011 — began the year planning a major expansion project. Approved by Lee County commissioners in 2019, the project revolved around building a 40,000-square-foot brewery, office, tasting hall and beer garden on land previously owned by the Lee County Port Authority. Fort Myers Brewing owners Ron and Jen Whyte acquired the 23-acre vacant parcel for the project, near Southwest Florida International Airport, for $2.05 million.